Island



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

D. J. REARDON. BICYCLE BALANCER.

Patented Aug. 10,1897.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES no: "onus Perms co. Putnam:

2 sheets sheet' 2. 7

{No Model.)

D. J. REARDON. m BICYCLE BALANOER.

No. 587,859. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

.JiTNESSES INVENTOR.

viz W48 Jihad UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DENNIS J. REARDON, .OF NEWPORT, RIIODE ISLAND.

BICYCLE-'BALANCER.

SPECIFIOATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,859, dated August 10, 1897.

' Application filed September 21, 1896. Serial No. 606,459. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DENNIS J. REARDON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bicycle-Balancers, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in bicycle-balancers,and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and effective device of this description which may be quickly adjusted to a bicycle or detached therefrom and when in use will serve to sustain a rider in equilibrum while learning to propel the machine and also to provide for varying adjustments of the trundle-wheels relative to the road-bed, in order that as the rider gains more confidence and skill in balancing the distance between the trundlewheels and the road-bed may be gradually increased, thus permit-ting said rider to exercise the skill gained by practice in maintaining an upright position without depending upon the trundle-wheels. V

lVith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims. In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same,the construction and operation will now be described in detail,referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a bicycle, showing my improvement attached thereto 5 Fig. 2, a rear view of the same; Fig. 3, a section at the line a: a; of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detailed view of the cross-brace, and Fig. 5 a similar view at right angles to Fig. 4. In carrying out this invention I provide two arms A, which have formed with or secured to thelowerends thereof the forks B, in which latter are journaled the trundlewheels 0. These forks, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, stand at an angle to the arms, so that. they may remain in avertical position when said arms are adjusted to an angle to the machine in order that they may be properly secured thereto.

In practice I prefer to make the arms of tubing, and the upper ends thereof are therefore adapted to receive the extension-rods D, 5 5

which are held in any suitable adjustment by the set-bolts E, the object of which will be hereinafter set forth. The extension-rods D are threaded at their upper ends and adapted to enter the internally-threaded ofisets F, which are formed with the clamps G. Each of these clamps is made in two sections H and I, the former of which carries the offset F and the latter serves as a cap, by means of which the clamp is held in place upon one of the clamps, and this'rod has a central enlargement K, which may be knurled or have formed thereon octagon spaces for the occupation of a wrench. The opposite ends of the clamps are secured together by the set-screws L,which serve to tightly bend the two sections of each of the clamps against the backstays'of the bicycle-frame.

The arms A are made rigid by the crossbraces M, each of which is composed of a clamp N, arranged to embrace one of the backstays just above the hub of the wheel by having a stationary jaw and a pivoted jaw, which are held in adjustment by a'bolt and nut O. This clamp is formed withthe tube P, and the latter is adapted to receive the extension-rod Q, which is held in place by the set-bolt R, in order that the cross-brace may be lengthened or shortened, as occasion requires, and upon the outer end of this extension-rod are formed the ears S, between which 5 are pivoted the inner end of the stationaryjaw of the clamp T by means of the bolt U. The clamp T has also a movable jaw V, which is pivoted to the stationary jaw, and these jaws are held'in adjustment by the bolt and nut W, this jaw serving to embrace and secure one of the arms A, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By this arrangement it will be seen that the arms A will be firmly held the rear wheel of the bicycle, thus adordi-ng a perfect support for the bicycle and the rider against any liability of falling sidewise, yet

- at the same time permitting the machine to. be propelled forward or turned in any direc t-ion, and this will enable a beginner to learn the necessary movementsof; pedaling for sustaining the required momentum to. permit,

ing sidewise, while at the. same time. per-.

mitti'ng the balancing of the machine by the forward progression thereof without depending upon the trundle-wheels, and at the same time therider will be given confidence from the knowledge that it is impossible to fall si'dewise, and when this confidence and continued practice have enabled the rider to maintain the machine in an upright position the trundle-wheels may be again adjusted higher than the road-bed, thus retaining the element of safety to the rider, while obviating the necessity for the use of the trundlewheels. After sufficient confidence hasv been gained by the rider my improvement may be then removed from the bicycle by the unfastening of the several clamps, from which it will be seen that not only is the rider safe use in connection with both mens and W0- with a womans wheel when a person is learn j v what is claimed as new and useful is said forks, extension-rods D upon which the sets F formed with said clamps, said having internal threads for the reception 0! right: and left threaded rod J for holdingthe the clamps to the, backstays of a. ;frame,cross-bra cesl\rl composed ofthee o 1 Y N and B, extension-rodsQ interposed between11o I clamps are pivoted, substantially as and far.

of the character described, cross-braces 11,215 consisting of the clamps N, means for ing said clamps to the backstays of abicyole-frame, tubes-P, extension-rods; Q fitti c; within said tubes and held in any adjustment.

,tially as, and for the purpose set. forth.

from serious and severe falls and, often saved a x from frequent falls and in many instances from serious injuries, but the process of learning to ride will be shortened and damage to;

the machine prevented. f Whilemyimprovement is advantageousfor mens bicycles, its necessity in connection ing to ride will be especially recognized. Having thus fully described this invent-ion,

1. The herein-described combination of the" arms A, forks B formed with the lower ends thereof, trundle-wheels C journaled withip arms. A are adj ustably secured, clamps G og the upper ends of the extension-rods D, Q

clamps G in place, set-screws L for binding said clamps and to which the lastthe purpose, set. forth. l

2.. In combination with a. bicycleehslanw by the bolts R, clamps T pivoted to the 0 1, tension-rods, and means for securing clamps to the arms of'the supporter, substlm:

l 'testimony whereof I have hereunto at fixed my signaturein the presence of t w 8s p scribing witnesses.

DENNIS .I. REARDON. Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, WM. G. WARD, Jr. 

